Recycling Plant With History Of Fires Goes Up In Flames

A recycling plant with a history of fires again went up in flames Monday evening — causing a massive cloud of smoke that could be seen throughout the city.

Newell Recycling in East El Paso, on the 6800 block of Market, recycles vehicles.

According to ABC-7 archives, the last time fire officials responded to flames at Newell Recycling was June 2009.

That same summer, ABC-7 investigated and discovered the plant had gone up in flames 30 times in the ten years prior.

In 2009, fire officials said the plant had in the past gotten sloppy by not completely draining gasoline from the vehicles before they started shredding them.

In the case of Monday’s fire, investigators said they’re still looking into the cause of the blaze.

“The issue with a recycling plant is that it can be all kinds of materials and we have a synergistic effect, where we have materials that combine and burn and they give off toxins, that’s the hazard, the unknowns, really”, said Sam Pena, a spokesman with the fire department.

Sixty fire fighters responded to the fire and by 8:30 P.M., the smoke had mostly cleared, but officials still want nearby residents to be careful.

“We recommend that if you are downwind from this incident and there is smoke in the area to remain indoors, if there is a large amount of smoke, turn off your air conditioners”, said Pena.

When ABC-7 investigated the plant in 2009, the owners did not return our phone calls. On Sunday, ABC-7 did not find the owners at the scene.